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Discussion: Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, Vieuxtemps: Concerto No. 5 - Heifetz/Sargent

Posts: 6

Post by DSD December 31, 2008 (1 of 6)
Zeus gets kudos for correctly listing this as a Stereo only SACD! Bravo!

However this RCA Living Stereo SACD includes two DSD programs and they are both 2 channel Stereo! From the back of the booklet:

CD / SUPER AUDIO CD STEREO / SUPER AUDIO CD SURROUND SOUND

"These were original two-track recordings; in Super Audio CD multi-channel mode, the music will be heard only from the front left and front right channels"

Now we all know that most RCA Living Stereo multi-channel recordings are three channels: front left, center and front right. But how can anyone seriously call a 2 channel stereo recording multi-channel?

Anyway I would like to echo Mark's (krisjan) comments on both the superb sound quality and excellent performances by Heifetz of the Bruch / Vieuxtemps Violin Concertos on RCA Living Stereo.

I played this after a rather plain sounding DSD recording of Elgar's Symphony No. 3 with the late Hickox conducting the BBC National Orchestra of Wells (Chandos CHSA5057) Elgar: Symphony No. 3 - Hickox With the very first note of the RCA Living Stereo release it's as if my stereo system woke-up and came to life!

I am concerned as most of my DSD recorded Chandos SACDs sound much better than the Elgar 3rd and was wondering if this was just a fluke? I don't have the Elgar 1st or 2nd? The Weill Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 also DSD recorded is one of my best sounding SACDs Kurt Weill: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 - Beaumont I am hoping the upcoming Holst Orchestral Works Volume 1 Holst: Orchestral Works Vol. 1 - Hickox the sonics will be more like the Weill than the Elgar! But since it is also the BBC National Orchestra of Wales could the problem be the hall itself?

Post by porpielee January 28, 2009 (2 of 6)
Excellent recording. This was recorded in London by Decca recording team in 1961, 1962- producer: Erik Smith (it's actually written as Eric Smith in the liner note), recording engineer: Kenneth Wilkinson (written as K.E. Wilkinson) and Allan Reeve. Probably one of the best five Living Stereo SACDs sonic wise.

This makes me dream about listening to Decca SACD recordings from the glory days - late 50s to early 70. This RCA SACD issue certainly shows the potential.

Post by Peter January 28, 2009 (3 of 6)
porpielee said:

Excellent recording. This was recorded in London by Decca recording team in 1961, 1962- producer: Erik Smith (it's actually written as Eric Smith in the liner note), recording engineer: Kenneth Wilkinson (written as K.E. Wilkinson) and Allan Reeve. Probably one of the best five Living Stereo SACDs sonic wise.

This makes me dream about listening to Decca SACD recordings from the glory days - late 50s to early 70. This RCA SACD issue certainly shows the potential.

... and the combination of Heifetz and Sargent works very well, too, I think.

Post by armenian January 28, 2009 (4 of 6)
I am a longtime Heifetz admirer, on LP I have all his recordings, on CD I have most and on SACD the few that have been re-issued recently. If I have to name one work that Heifetz “owns” the Scottish fantasy would be the one, his tone and technique seems to fit just right for this work. There are other violinists that “own” a certain piece, David Oistrakh’s performance of Shostakovich Violin concerto #1 is another example that I can think of, and it is available on CD in glorious mono on Columbia Masterworks.

Vahe

Post by nydo January 28, 2009 (5 of 6)
The Tippett recording by Hickox and Wales is in very good sound. I haven't heard the Elgar, but presume it was recorded in the same hall. As for Chandos, the Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony is in excellent sound, though it needs to be turned up, as the level is low. I agree about this Heifetz release; it is one of the best sounding in the series.

Post by porpielee January 29, 2009 (6 of 6)
And look at the amazon.com price ($7.99). I don't this title isn't going to get any lower than this.

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